[center][h1][b][i][color=ed1c24]Secretive Shenanigans, Part II[/color][/i][/b][/h1][/center][hr]

	[color=steelblue]"Permission granted. Please, make yourself comfortable. We shouldn't be disturbed here. You're welcome to anything I've got here - shower, fresh clothes, I have some cornbread left in the kitchen, ah.. wait, Coffee!"[/color] Yes, Ash distinctly remembered her saying she was willing to brew a pot. And here he was offering some of his homebrew. 

	Thana was grateful to finally pull the scarf down and take a deep breath without wool going into her nostrils. Unwinding it from her neck she pulled it free and smiled slightly. [color=0072bc]"I'll take one of everythin'. In due time that is, for now though coffee and cornbread sounds divine."[/color]

	Of course she would want coffee. She wasn't Ash, drinking thick, bread-in-a-bottle homemade beer for breakfast. And considering the grim man's state of irritation at their lack of the glorious roasted bean, he should have jumped at the woman's offer to make coffee. Of course, as she was a guest in his house, etiquette dictated that he at least offer to handle the preparation of the steaming, black refreshment. 

	[color=steelblue]"I hope you take it black. The recent Apocalypse has forced us to do without certain luxuries. Oh, did you want to handle this, or should I do the honors?"[/color] 

	[color=0072bc]"I'll let you take the honors, not sure how strong you like it. Got any salt?"[/color] she asked. It was one of those things navy folks were used to adding to this coffee. Whether it was to cut the bitter or to keep sodium levels up while on the sea was always up for debate but either way, it was the usual method.

	Taking off her pack, she rested it on the table and unzipped it, pulling out a can of Foldgers Medium Roast from it. It was a large can, one of those people who drank one to two pots a day bought to get through the week. Stepping over to Ash she popped the top and the smell of ground coffee beans wafted out.

	[color=0072bc]"Oh momma is gonna enjoy you in a few minutes,"[/color] she said in an almost loving voice before handing it over to her host. 

	Ash was mesmerized by the large can of coffee. He accepted it gingerly, almost lovingly, as one might handle a baby for the first time. Nary a granule of the beloved dark stuff would be spilled on that day, oh no. Nary a granule. He set it down on a countertop just in the other room, and measured out six lightly rounded scoops into his personal coffee maker. Fluidly, he filled the pot with water from the kitchen sink and poured it into the back of the machine, and almost gasped at the wonder and majesty of the little orange light clicking on when he depressed the "Start Brew Cycle" button. [color=steelblue]"I think there might be a partial cylinder of ...salt?"[/color] 

	[color=0072bc]"Yes salt. N A C L, sodium chloride,"[/color] Thana said idly as she looked around and slowly unbuttoned her bridge coat and shrugged it off her shoulders.

	A look of slight revulsion passed over Ash. Why would you ruin coffee like that? Then he remembered. [color=steelblue]"Ah, Navy. Forgot. Might be a prehistoric cylinder of Morton's somewhere in here, but I know there's some down at the Mess. I'll look while it brews."[/color]

	[color=0072bc]"If ya don't no worries,"[/color] she said as she stepped towards the kitchen, the coat draped over her forearm.

	This was a nice chunk of pleasantry, but ultimately it felt like stalling. Ash had to say what he needed to. Rip it off like an adhesive bandage. Just as soon as that cup of coffee was halfway done. Two thirds, max. 

	Leaning against the wall she took a deep breath, enjoying the heavenly aroma that was filling the room. A small smile curled at the corner of her lips. Without the thick heavy coat one could see her Navy issue fatigues were aged but well taken care of and her dog tags rested there, obviously shined regularly. Even her boots showed a fresh shine. She took care of her things. 

	Reaching up she pulled her cover off. Dark hair cut in a chin length bob but it was hardly bone straight, little waves kept it soft. [color=0072bc]"So, you mentioned cornbread?"[/color] Thana asked as she took her things and set them with her bag on the table.

	[color=steelblue]"Cornbread, yeah."[/color] Ash muttered absently. He was unsure how exactly to broach the rather unseemly topic he had a responsibility to share with the newcomer. But he did try to be a decent host nonetheless. On his kitchen table lay a bowl, within which lay a tightly wrapped bundle of cloth. Parting open a fold or three revealed a collection of delicate, golden bricks of baked cornbread. Technically, it was his ration of the stuff for the next couple of days, but he was fairly certain that he could scare up some more, circumstances being what they were. Ash held the bowl out to Thana, motioning for her to partake: to which she did.  

	[color=steelblue]"We're building a respectable medical team here in sunny Newnan, Dr. Martin, should you be interested in a position. What kind of Doctor are you, if I can ask?"[/color] 

	Thana was about to take a bite when she stopped mid-motion and looked at Ash oddly before starting to chuckle. Shaking her head she pulled out a chair and sat down, still holding the cornbread in her hand. [color=0072bc]"I think I would be better suited for them fields out there,"[/color] she responded still giving a slight laugh. Taking a deep breath she leaned back in the chair slightly, yet even as she did she sat at attention for the most part. [color=0072bc]"I'm a botanist by degree sir. My doctorate is in Plant Pathology, basically production agriculture. My masters was in Agronomy, basically soil management and crop production."[/color] Looking down at the cornbread her fingers ran over it carefully as to not crumble it as she told the leader of Newnan all of this. 

	Looking up at Ash she smirked a bit. [color=0072bc]"I basically just science the shit out of things."[/color] 

	[color=steelblue]"You and James should get along just fine. Been keeping us fed for a while now. Not so much of a science guy, though. Just knows things."[/color] 

	The coffee pot had gotten about halfway full, enough to more than comfortable to pour a cup for each of them. Ash reached into the cabinet above him and pulled out the two mugs nearest him. One of them was a fairly standard ceramic affair, featuring a big, yellow smiley face with a bullet hole in the forehead region. The other was a piece of Discovery Channel merchandise, reading, "I Reject Your Reality And Substitute My Own". The irony and/or appropriateness was not lost on him. He made quick work filling each cup, and pressed Smiley into Thana's hand. 

	Thana took the mug in one hand, resting the cornbread down on the table with the other. This man wasn't explaining things and he wasn't exactly asking her a lot of questions. That got her attention. All of this to get her under lock and key without people seeing her face. Promises to answers and an explanation that still hadn't come. Taking a slowly sip of the black gold, she savored it before resting the coffee mug down on the table and straightening her back slightly. 

	[color=0072bc]"I'm sure we would if I stay but frankly I don't know if I will. Not too keen on secrets and subterfuge. So, before we go any further Captain Holloway mind explainin' what all cloak and daggerness it about? Why you be sneakin' me around like this is some stop on the underground railroad?"[/color]

	Ash sighed. [color=steelblue]"Fair enough."[/color] he held up a cardboard tube of iodized salt and shook it lightly. There was very little of the saline commodity in the cylinder, maybe enough for two or three uses by the average adult. He set it down in front of Thana and took a seat at the kitchen table across from her. His mood shifted from lightly nervous host to businesslike officer instantly. He took a sip of his coffee, silently nodding heartfelt appreciation that did not show on his face, again stoic as per his usual habit. He did like his caffeinated beverages, and coffee topped that particular list. [color=steelblue]"I don't usually stall, ma'am; I'm sorry. I'll try to be as direct as possible. I owe you that much.[/color] 

	[color=steelblue]Here is is, start to finish. The reason for the secrecy, the odd looks from my team, everything:[/color]

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[center][h1] ...To Be Continued... [/h1][/center] 

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